knitting lemonade - counterpane_carpet_bag

Counterpane Carpet Bag...fin!

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 20:00:30 -0600

At last...My Counterpane Carpet Bag is here to stay.

I love this bag. Is love too strong a word? Well, too bad, cause that is just the way I feel. I can't deny my true feelings. Ever since I picked up that Handknit Holidays in December, I just knew we were meant to be.

I seamed the ole' CCB one night at the Motel 8 in Taber, Alberta, and lined it at my Grandma's. Ok, when I say "I lined it," I mean this...

It takes an Canadian army to line a bag, eh? The first pic is of my darling mom is doing it old school with a needle and thread. And next pic is of my Aunt Vicki and Grandma working the machine. With their help, I was able to get this...

Do you see the cute little pleats? My mom did that...Don't you just love moms? They can do anything!

Wanna another shot of the bag? Well, ok...

And here are the scallops in detail...

Basically, the Riata yarn from Brooks Farm Yarn was PERFECT! Just what I was looking for all these months--something that looks super antique-y yet has a subtle colorway. I used just a bit over one skein. (Some of the yarn leftovers were used toward a secret project which I will reveal as soon as I give it to its recipient.) Also love the lining. It just finishes off the "I found this in my Grandma's attic" vibe I was going for. So there you have it, yet another purse to add to the rotation. I think the purse count is up to about 29 now...

The Apprentice: Boston

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:30:00 -0600

So I got to travel to Boston this week for work. It sounds glamorous, doesn't it? Well, that really wasn't the case. Basically, my week was an like an episode of the Apprentice. I spent the whole week running around the Boston Convention Center handing out prizes trying to get as many people to visit our booth. Oh, and I was wearing wacky hats at the time. I guess when there is a free trip to Boston on the line, I will do just about anything.

One HUGE drawback to this week was that I was working so much that I got no knitting done. Zero. Zilch. I am working on a new project, however, but it is a secret. shhhh....I will reveal what it is and who it is for when it is finished, which should be soon. I know you all are shocked by the idea that I might actually be knitting something for someone other than myself. Believe me, you can't be more surprised than me. But who knows, this might be a turning point for me. I could become the Mother Teresa of knitting--never thinking of myself, just devoted to the fiber needs of others. Nah.

I did however finish both sides of my Counterpane Carpet Bag AND bought the fabric for the lining, as well as the handles. Wanna see?

And here's a close-up...

Now all I have left is to seam and line the bag. My family is taking a road trip to Canada this week to visit the grandparents. We will be in Taber, Alberta. If you are familiar with Taber (it's the corn capitol of Canada, I'll have you know), you will know that there will be PLENTY of free time to finish this bag, and possibly those darn Pomatomus socks too! So look for some new FOs when I return...

Counterpane Weekend

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:04:50 -0600

I didn't waste any time using some of that Estes Park haul. I grabbed that Riata yarn from Brooks Farm Yarn and got down to Counterpane Carpet Bag biz-niz.

I have been in love with this bag since I got Handknit Holidays for Christmas. So for the past 6 months, I have been searching for the 'perfect yarn.' And boy, was I picky...I didn't want yarn that was too stripey. I wanted yarn that was antique-y looking. I didn't want yarn that was too dark. I wanted this, I didn't want that. Picky, picky, picky.

At Estes Park, my primary mission was to find that elusive 'perfect yarn' for this bag. And while shopping in that big barn full of kiosks and yarn vendors, the heavens parted. I found the Riata. Can I get a "Hallelujah"?! So I saw, I bought, I knit.

This weekend, I quickly knitted up one side of the Counterpane Carpet Bag.

Conclusion: I LOVE THIS BAG! The quickness of the knit kept me engaged and the yarn, oh the yarn, is knitting up better than I ever hoped for. It is truly perfect.

There is, however, a hitch. The pattern in the book calls for 800 yards of the La Lana Forever Random Blends. I have maybe used 200 yards for one side. I mean, that is a HUGE discrepency. They yarns are not that different in weight:

Forever Random Blends: 40 yards/oz
Riata: 45.6 yards/oz

Now don't get me wrong, I love my bag as is. It's just the Nancy Drew in me refuses to let this mystery die. Any ideas?